We are in love with Polkadog Bakery out of Boston. They have dehydrated Atlantic Silverside that dogs are just crazy about. Plus their glass jars are upscale and a nice addition to our treat displays. — Angela Pantalone, Wag Central, Stratford, CT
- Live feeder insects and their life-support needs. EXO TERRA Cricket Pens, ZOOMED Cricket Block, FLUKER’S water cubes. — Liz Harris, Creatures Featured, Madison, FL
- 2 HOUNDS DESIGN Freedom No-Pull Harness thanks to recommendations from local trainers. CHARLEE BEAR Grain Free Crunch. We use these in our gym, dogs love them, and pet parents buy what the dogs love! Great value. — Sue Hepner, Cool Dog Gear, Warrington, PA
- Locally made CHARLIE’S DOGGIE BAG treats. They have always been popular, but I believe people are coming here to support local businesses, as it has been the buzz lately. I order them directly from the manufacturer. — Becci Johnson Scott, Fetching Dog, Scottsdale, AZ
- We sold a lot of K9 GRANOLA FACTORY Gourmet Donuts — 79 of them between Aug. 20 and 31. We gave them their own bakery case to showcase about a dozen different flavors, and we highlighted them on social media. At $3.99 each, they’re at a great price point for people who enjoy treating their dog to something that looks good enough to eat themselves! — Shane Somerville, Paddywack, Mill Creek, WA
- WERUVA Paw Lickin’ Chicken for dogs, 14-ounce. Hand separated from the bone, great option when the dog isn’t feeling well and you don’t have the time to boil up some chicken! — Matthew OLeary, Felix & Oscar, Springfield, VA
- Our featured treat for August was ZIGNATURE Ziggy Bars. These do well for sampling, which usually leads to a purchase. — Keefer Dickerson, Nashville Pet Products, Nashville, TN
- NUGGETS HEALTHY EATS Artisan Yogurt and Bone Brew. Great for hot summer days, it’s a “treat” pet parents can feel good about feeding, and it takes a minute to eat. This appeals to my raw-feeding customers, ingredient-conscious customers and customers searching for birthday/gotcha day treats. — Lisa Boegl, Eldorado Country Pet, Santa Fe, NM
- A consistently strong performer among dog treats continues to be Operation Drool Overload soft-baked treats by THE LAZY DOG. In addition to being a healthy and favorable treat, Lazy Dog partners with Dogs On Deployment, which provides assistance to military pet owners on deployment. — Karen Durham, Willis Feed Mill, Willis, MI
- We couldn’t keep RUFFWEAR Float Coats on the shelves! Customers have loved spending extra time with their pups this summer, and many have taken it to water sports. Ruffwear makes a phenomenal life vest, and I’ve never heard anything but amazing feedback! — Johnna Devereaux, Fetch RI, Richmond, RI
- Birthday cake and ice cream mix from PUPPY CAKE. People love baking for their pet during this pandemic! — Anna Woodcock, Brown Dog Bakery, Ankeny, IA
- BARE BITES Bare Feet chicken feet. Since many of our customers have been working from home, these chews have helped keep their pets busy while working. — Jeff Jensen, Four Muddy Paws, St Louis, MO
- FUZZU presidential dog toys. From Bloomberg to Trump, how can you go wrong? — Jack Carey, Food for Pets, Manchester, NH
- BOCCE’S BAKERY Crispies! People like that there are so many in the box and the low calorie count. The packaging is very colorful. — Sandy House, Paws N Effect, Hamden, CT
- THE BONES & CO Beef Marrow Bones have been a great seller for us. Customers love that it’s a nutritious chew, keeps their dogs interested for a while, it’s long-lasting, and it’s a great dental tool for keeping those pearly whites gleaming. Many raw-feeding parents get them, but many kibble-feeding folks are learning about them and falling in love with them. — Kimberly Gatto, The Wagging Tail, Las Vegas, NV
- My Perfect Pet frozen dog food. Restaurant-grade ingredients in convenient, individually wrapped frozen bars. — Denise Strong, Pawz On Main, Cottonwood, AZ
- Treats. FARM HOUNDS provided us with new types of treats that are flying off the shelves. Farm Hounds sources from “small family owned farms” that have a philosophy to use every single part of the animal. Customers really like that about their products. — April Meier, Pawsitively Scrumptious, Crestview, FL
- Our best-selling items were the No-Hide chews from EARTH ANIMAL. Once you explain that it is flour based instead of rawhide and they see the ingredients, it is a win-win. We carry all the sizes and vary the proteins for fun. — Debbie Purchia, Pet Playhouse, Milldale, CT
- Puzzles by MY INTELLIGENT PETS. — Caroline Gunther, Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, Hendersonville, NC
- JOLLY PETS Flyer is doing really well for us. We are located next to a large dog park, so people buy them to play frisbee with their dogs. — Charlsye Lewis, Metro Animals, Fort Worth, TX
- American River Camo Harness by DOGGIE DESIGN. They’re great fitting, comfortable harnesses that are available in the extra-small sizes our customers are shopping for. They’re available in brown, orange, grey and pink camo. — Tom Jeffrey, Dinky Dog Club, Charleston, SC
- Birds. Can’t get enough babies this year. Whatever comes in sells quickly. Airlines have made it difficult to ship animals. — Paul Lewis, Birds Unlimited, Webster, NY
- BENEBONES and BARKBONES have been our best-selling chew toys, and FLUFF & TUFF flies out of the store faster than any other stuffed toys. — Nancy Faye Guinn, Dog Krazy Inc, Fredericksburg, VA
- AUSTIN & KAT CBD treats are hot! Great product, they smell yummy, the dogs love ’em and the packaging has great shelf appeal that gets the customers attention. — Pattie Zeller, Animal Connection, Charlottesville, Virginia
- THE HONEST KITCHEN dehydrated diets sold really well in August. Many of our customers have senior dogs now, and they just can’t digest kibble anymore. We gave out the trial cups for free to many of these customers, and they made the switch from kibble to Honest Kitchen. We also suggest Honest Kitchen veggie bases for raw feeders to make certain diets complete and balanced. This has been a huge success. — Victoria Park, Park Pet Supply, Atlanta, GA
- Birds, especially parakeets, cockatiels and conures. — Rachael Creech, Adventure Pets, Mandeville and Covington, LA
- It was the month for all things PRIMAL! Goat milk, broths, elixirs, freeze-dried and raw food! The products in the line complement one another, and Primal does a super job of promoting, training and supporting their retailers. Straight up love Primal, and so do our clients! — Karen Conell, The Bark Market, Delavan WI
- With kitten adoptions on the rise, we have been selling lots of kitten food and supplies. One of our best-sellers has been ALMO NATURE canned kitten food. With a semi-pate texture and high-quality ingredients, it has been an easy sell to our customers compared to other canned kitten food that we offer. Plus it has helped to increase Almo Nature sales across the board because it feeds so well that our customers come back to buy other varieties for their adult cats. — Keith Henline, Asheville Pet Supply, Asheville, NC
- best- Breed Dog Foodbest- Breed Dog Food. — Ron Keller, Captivating Canines, Westerville, OH
- CBD and ANSWERS PET FOOD because we are seeing a surge of ill pets. — Krysta Fox, Bruce & Willy’s Natural Pet Source, Geneva, IL
SERVICES
- Since school here is a combo model and some parents are still working from home, they need their sweet pup to have manners while they are working. — Lisa Kirschner, Sit, Stay, ‘N Play, Inc, Stroudsburg, PA
- We sold more self-washes than CBD tinctures! I was initially worried about the investment and floor space it would take, but I think it’s going to be a good thing for my business! — Elaina Stanley, Three Happy Hounds, Fernley, NV
- Midday dog walks for essential workers. — Elizabeth Hobbs, Stay and Play at Home, Bristol, VA
- Puppy training and basic obedience. It appeals to our clients because we are preventing and solving behavior problems and providing socialization for young puppies when they can’t get it elsewhere. — Jen Havens, Two Dogs Pet Services, Monrovia, CA
- Dog day care . — Andy Wiltz, Woof’s Play & Stay, Merriam, KS
- I offer canine aquatic massage and conditioning in an’ indoor, heated dog pool. It’s primarily for senior dogs (arthritis, hip dysplasia), but I ran a promo about swimming and weight loss, and the dangers of dogs being overweight. It really hit home with a lot of people. — Diane Pekarek, Modern Dog Massage, Greater Cleveland, OH
What’s the Brain Squad?
If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. pet business serving the public, you’re invited to join the PETS+ Brain Squad. Take one five-minute quiz a month, and you’ll get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting the pet industry. Sign up here.